The bandhs are being called in order to put pressure on the Centre to resolve the decades-long Mahadayi water sharing issue – but not everyone wants a bandh.

Bengaluru is set to witness two bandhs in a span of 10 days, as Vatal Nagaraj, the President of the Confederation of Pro-Kannada Organisations, has called for a state-wide bandh on January 25 and also a separate bandh only in Bengaluru on February 4.

The bandhs are being called in order to put pressure on the Centre to resolve the decades-long Mahadayi water sharing issue. The second bandh in Bengaluru is being organized to coincide with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city for the BJP’s Parivarthana Yatra celebrations.

“We will carry out a state-wide bandh in support of the farmers, who have been protesting for years for water. This issue must be resolved quickly. That’s why we have called for another bandh when PM Modi will arrive for the Parivarthana Yatra valedictory function,” Nagaraj added.

However, the bandhs may not affect the daily life of people of the state, as not everyone is in favor – including farmers’ associations, whom Vatal Nagaraj seems to be speaking for. Associations say they were never consulted before the call for a bandh was issued.

Kurubara Shantakumar, President of Rajya Raitha Sangha told TNM that the bandh is only going to inconvenience the common man, while not having any impact on the political leaders.

“Till now we have had three bandhs in the state regarding the Mahadayi issue. Did it make any difference? No, it did not. How can he call for a bandh without consulting the farmers, who are the ones being affected by this issue?” he asked.

“We have to come up with new ways of agitation. What have all the previous bandhs done? Nothing. Leaders both in the Central and state governments are just cheating us. Now that a bandh has been called for, who is to say that the Prime Minister will not cancel his visit? What would be the point then?” Shantakumar added.